MONDAY’S BRITISH NEWS ROUND-UP

British road race champion Rob Hayles (Halfords Bikehut) has been confirmed for the Salford Nocturne event on Saturday August 30.

Hayles, who is currently on top form having won the British road race and the Tour of Pendle recently (and is riding the Surrey League Five Day at the moment), will be one of the main favourites for the criterium although will face some stiff competition from the likes of Geraint Thomas.

?I?m looking forward to Salford, especially with Geraint on the start list. He was really strong at Smithfield and I was disappointed not to take the win there,? said Rob.

?I?ll definitely be out for a bit of revenge and it will be great to win so close to home. Geraint will be racing straight from the Olympics so will want to put on a show but I?m feeling good at the moment and will be up for the challenge?.

Ed Clancy and former national criterium champion James McCallum will also be riding the event.

WEGELIUS BACK IN ACTION

Britain?s Charlie Wegelius is back in action again in Italy. Liquigas? climbing domestique will compete in the Tre Valli Varesini and the upcoming Coppa Agostini.

Wegelius skipped the Tour de France this year after riding the Giro d?Italia in May and is expected to fare well in these hilly races.

SOCIAL NETWORKING WITH BRITISH CYCLING

British Cycling has joined the social networking website, Facebook. With a link on its main page to the popular website, it allows cyclists to become a ?fan? of British Cycling and features a discussion board, polls and photos.

This is all part of the BC strategy to boost its ever-increasing membership figures.

LONDON GRAND PRIX

With just over three weeks to go until the start of the Tour of Britain in London, entries for the supporting race, the London Grand Prix, are already flooding in.

The race will be the penultimate round of the Elite men?s circuit race series and with sixty points on offer to the winner, it will be an opportunity for somebody to overhaul Dean Downing (Rapha Condor Recycling), the current series leader.

Among the teams already set to ride are Pearl Izumi, Planet X, High 5 Racing Team and the Arctic Premier Team.

The race will take place on Sunday September 7 on the same course as the first stage of the Tour of Britain. Action begins at 10.30 with the race taking place over 55 minutes plus five laps. Entries are open on the British Cycling website costing £15 in advance and £20 on the line.

KENNAUGH TAKES MAJOR WIN

Britain?s Peter Kennaugh has taken another win by winning the Gran Premio Capodarco race in Italy, the memorial race of former Olympic road race champion Fabio Casartelli.

Rod Ellingworth was keeping the British team in Italy up-to-date with news of the British Olympic squad in Beijing whilst they were riding. The 180km course was a true race of attrition, featuring eight climbs, the last two of which were 20%. Britain?s Ben Swift, who recently returned from riding in the Olympic road race, featured an impressive 19th.

The race is shown live on television in Italy and Kennaugh?s performance, which is the latest in a string of good results for the young rider, is likely to turn a lot of heads.

Connect with us

Please keep me up to date with special offers and news from Cycling Weekly and other brands within the Time Inc. UK Group by email. You can unsubscribe at any time.

We'd also like to send you special offers and news just by email from other carefully selected companies we think you might like. Your personal details will not be shared with those companies - we send the emails and you can unsubscribe at any time. Please tick here if you are happy to receive these messages.